Method for making umbrella tubes



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3,376,632 Patented Apr. 9, 1968 3,376,632 METHOD FOR MAKING UMBRELLA TUBES Isadore Caplan, Brighton, N.Y., assignor of one-half to Markin Tubing, Inc, Rochester, N.Y., a corporation of New York Original application Aug. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 301,460, now Patent No. 3,266,120, dated Aug. 16, 1966. Divided and this application Oct. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 496,997

Claims. (Cl. 29-417) This application is a division of application Ser. No. 301,460, now Patent No. 3,266,120; filed August 12, 1963.

The present invention relates to a method for automatically making umbrella tubes, that is, the central rods or shafts commonly used in folding umbrellas.

An object of the invention is the provision of a generally improved and more satisfactory method for making such tubes.

Another object is the provision of a method which can be performed automatically on suitable machinery.

Still another object is the provision of a method for making an umbrella tube from suitable lengths of plain metal tubing, with a minimum of separate operations and maximum economy of time and expense.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a method for making umbrella tubes which involve the provision of a locating dimple near one end of the tube, for subsequent use in locating the handle which is later to be placed on the tube, and the provision of a projection or abutment stop near the other end of the tube, together with a suitable tip on the second end of the tube, and suitable latch slots intermediate the ends of the tube.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a method for making umbrella tubes by forming a dimple in the terminal portions of a tube, feeding the tube through a knurling station to knurl one end of the tube, continuing the feed of the tube into an operating position, forming a plurality of umbrella latch receiving slots in a tube in the operating position, forming a tube with a stop projection, a handle positioning mark, and inserting a tip in the other end of the tube in the operating position, conveying the tube from the operating position into a swaging position for swaging the end of the tube about the tip, and removing the tube from the swaging position.

These and other desirable objects may be attained in the manner disclosed as an illustrative embodiment of the invention in the following description and in the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an umbrella rod made on the machine according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation of the umbrella rod shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective showing one end of a piece of tubing formed with a dimple;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross section through the end of a piece of tubing showing how the dimple holds a tip in the tube ready for swaging;

FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C show a plan view of the automatic umbrella tube making machine embodying the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical longtudinal cross-section of a tip holder assembly taken approximately on line 66 of FIG. 5C;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the rivet holder assembly on an enlarged scale to show details of construction.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-section taken approximately on line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a horizontal cross-section taken approximately on line 9-9 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section taken substantially on the line 10-10 of FIG. 7 showing the rivet holder assembly in front elevation;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged vertical cross-section taken approximately on line 11-11 of FIG. 5C showing an inside elevation of the left hopper plate assembly with the tube knurling assembly, the die assembly and the adjacent tube slotting and punching assembly;

1 FIG. 12 is a cross-section through the knurling assembly taken approximately on line 12-12 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is another cross-section through the knurling assembly taken approximately on line 13-13 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged detail side elevation of one of the spring pressed latch casings with the cover removed showing the details of construction;

FIG. 15 is a front elevation of the vertical punch and slotting assembly on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 16 is a plan view of the vertical punch and slotting assembly on the enlarged scale as shown in FIG.

FIG. 17 is a rear elevation of the vertical punch and slotting assembly as shown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of the horizontal punch and slotting assembly;

' FIG. 19 is a front elevation of the horizontal punch and slotting assembly as shown in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a vertical cross-section taken approximately on line 20-20 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 is a side elevation of the horizontal punch and slotting assembly;

FIG. 22 is a rear elevation of the horizontal punch and slotting assembly;

FIG. 23 is a detail cross-section of the horizontal punch and slotting assembly taken approximately on line 23-23 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 24 is an enlarged plan view of the crimper assembly and a portion of the left hopper plate;

FIG. 25 is a rear elevation of the crimper assembly and hopper plate as shown in FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is a front elevation of the crimper assembly;

FIG. 27 is an enlarged cross-section showing the crunper die construction taken approximately on line 27-27 of FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is a vertical cross-section taken approximately on line 28-28 of FIG. SA;

11516. 29 is an enlarged plan view of the swager feed ro s;

FIG. 30 is a rear elevation of the swager feed rolls;

FIG. 31 is a vertical cross-section of the swager feed roll assembly taken approximately on line 31-31 of FIG. 29;

FIG. 32 is an enlarged plan view showing the left portion of the swager feed hopper and the swager pusher and brake assembly;

FIG. 33 is an end elevation of the pusher and brake assembly looking from the left hand side of FIG. 32;

FIG. 34 is a rear elevation of the pusher;

FIG. 35 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevation of the swager with portions broken away and shown in crosssection to illustrate details of contruction; and

FIG. 36 is a wiring diagram showing the electrical connections to the several motors, relays and other controls for automatically controlling operation of the machine.

The method according to the present invention can best be understood by first obtaining an understanding of the preferred form of machine for carrying out the method. Such machine will now be described.

The present invention provides a machine for forming predetermined length of tubing of a desired size or sizes into a completed umbrella tube ready for the assembly of the remaining umbrella parts thereon. The 'umbr'ella 

3. THE METHOD OF MAKING AN UMBRELLA TUBE WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS OF PROVIDING A LENGTH OF TUBING, FORMING AN INWARDLY PROJECTING DIMPLE AT ONE END THEREOF TO REDUCE THE INTERNAL SIZE OF THE TUBE ON ONE DIAMETER, PLACING IN SAID DIMPLED END A TIP MEMBER HAVING A SHANK PORTION OF SUCH DIAMETER AS TO HAVE A FRICTION FIT BETWEEN THE DIMPLE AND THE OPPOSITE WALL OF THE TUBING, AND THEN SWAGING SAID TUBING INWARDLY AROUND SAID SHANK PORTION TO REDUCE THE INSIDE DIAMETER OF THE TUBING TO GRIP SAID SHANK PORTION TIGHTLY. 